HSE Service Plan to protect existing services and help develop new ones – Buttimer

Fine Gael TD for Cork South Central, and Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on Health, Jerry Buttimer, has said the HSE Service Plan will protect existing services and develop new ones.
“This is the second year in which additional Exchequer funding has been made available to support health and social care services. The increased funding of almost €817 million is 6.5% higher than the original 2015 allocation. This includes an extra €100 million to maintain existing services and €99 million for new developments, including:
· Therapy services for young people, especially speech & language
· Further development of mental health services
· Primary care including provision for GP care without fees for 6-11
· Maternity Services
· Ambulances
· Hospital projects
· New vaccines for Men B and Rotavirus, subject to negotiations

“This service plan allows us to continue our reform of the health service. Fine Gael’s vision for the future of the health service is universal healthcare and we are already putting the building blocks for this in place.

“Fine Gael has a long term plan to keep the recovery going. Our plan will deliver more new jobs and affordable, sustainable improvements in services. This Government is already making important practical reforms in health and getting projects over the line and we will continue to do this. We have introduced GP care without fees for the oldest and youngest in our society on a universal basis, as the first concrete step to universal healthcare.

“Fianna Fáil threw money at health but implemented no real reforms. Sinn Féin’s latest health plans will cost families hundreds of euro through taxation and lost tax reliefs and could even result in those who already have free GP cards losing them.”